Effects of a conflict resolution training program on nursing students: A quasi-experimental study based on the situated learning theory

Abstract

Background: Conflict among nurses within the healthcare system negatively impacts them and patient outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to prepare nursing students for conflict resolution in clinical practice.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a conflict resolution training program based on the situated learning theory (SLT) for nursing students and to verify the impact of the program on abilities of communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

Design: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a non-randomized control group pretest and posttest design.

Settings: A college of nursing with the main campus in South Korea.

Participants: The subjects were 48 senior nursing students in the last semester of their nursing program.

Methods: The program was developed based on the SLT. It was delivered to the experimental group (90 min per session, a total of eight sessions) while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed with χ²-test, Fisher's exact test, unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni correction using SPSS/WIN 25.0 program.

Results: There were significant interactions between group and time in problem-solving ability (p = 0.048) and subjective conflict resolution ability (p = 0.005). Problem-solving ability and subjective conflict resolution ability in the experimental group significantly improved compared to the control group based on post-hoc test. After the program, objective conflict resolution ability was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (p < 0.001). For communication ability, there was a significant interaction between group and time (p = 0.046). However, it showed no significant difference between the two groups in a post-hoc test.

Conclusions: The conflict resolution training program based on the SLT was found to be effective in improving the abilities of problem-solving and conflict resolution of nursing students.

Keywords: Communication; Conflict; Nursing students; Problem-solving; Quasi-experimental study.